Putin tells Erdoğan Montreux Convention should be preserved

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's President Vladimir Putin has told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the phone that the Montreux Convention on the regime of the Straits should be preserved, Bianet reports citing a press release from the Kremlin.

"In the context of Turkey's plans to build the Istanbul Canal, the Russian President noted the importance of preserving the 1936 Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits with a view to ensuring regional stability and security," says the Kremlin statement.

Putin's warning comes amid public debate in Turkey whether the Montreux treaty would apply to Canal Istanbul, a planned artificial waterway parallel to the Bosphorus strait. The convention restricts the passage of naval ships belonging to states other than the Black Sea countries through the Straits.

Recently, retired diplomats and retired admirals released separate statements against the canal project and opening up of the convention for discussion and warned the government that it should be preserved. The government accused the retired admirals of making an implicit coup threat and 10 of them have been detained since Monday on charges related to violation of the Constitution.